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The Florida National Guard SuperStock racing boat zips along the St. Johns River on Thursday during a promotional run.

The Florida National Guard SuperStock racing boat, piloted by 22-year-old Elijah Kingery, takes Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan along the San Marco shoreline of the St. Johns River on Thursday during a promotional run.

Driver Justin Belz and his co-pilot hustle their Panther SuperStock speedboat down the course at the last race May 17-18 in Stuart. The boat will be one of 10

The St. Johns River off Memorial Park will be full of racing this weekend as the Jacksonville Grand Prix of the Sea comes to the Riverside shoreline.

SuperStock speedboats and AquaX watercraft will compete in free races Saturday and Sunday.

Ten SuperStock speedboats, including the Visit Jacksonville craft, begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with more racing Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m. About 30 AquaX personal watercraft riders also will compete.

Superstock director Azam Rangoonwala said it began 11 years ago as a European offshore racing series, then changed to less expensive production-based racing boats to broaden appeal and get more teams. The 2014 season has five races in Florida and five in England.

“It brings an international flavor to Jacksonville since we race in different places in the world,” Rangoonwala said.

He said it has potential to get even bigger.

A temporary dock will be added in front of the park, Rangoonwala said. After the boats have raced, people can see them and meet the racers.

The SuperStock championship uses one of 38 specially designed 28-foot P1 Panther race boats powered by a 250-horsepower Evinrude outboard. The boats weigh about 2,550 pounds and can hit up to 70 mph.

The AquaX series uses personal watercraft made by multiple manufacturers and split into categories for 200, 250 and 300 horsepower.

“You are allowed handling mods, but the engines are not allowed to be touched,” Rangoonwala said.

The boats will race about 1,000 feet off the park south of the Fuller Warren Bridge and avoid marine life like manatees, Rangoonwala said.

Organizers expect about 1,000-plus people each day. Bleachers will be set up at Memorial Park with a big video screen, food and beverage vendors and a band.

A free shuttle bus service has been set up 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday since parking is scarce nearby. Attendees can park for free at the Dillon Garage at St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside at 1 Shircliff Way, then take a bus to a dropoff/pickup lot in the 2100 block of Riverside Avenue.

There will be a VIP cruise noon to 3 p.m. on the Foxy Lady dinner cruise yacht for $165 per person. For information, email the race director at azam@powerboatp1.com.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549

GRAND PRIX OF THE SEA

Saturday

11 a.m. - SuperStock Practice

11:30 a.m. - SuperStock Qualifying

Noon - Lunch (Memorial Park)

1 p.m. - AquaX Race 1

2 p.m. - SuperStock Race 1

2:30 p.m. - SuperStock 2

Sunday

11:30 a.m. - AquaX Race 2

12:30 p.m. - SuperStock Race 3

1 p.m. - Lunch (Memorial Park)

2 p.m. - AquaX Race 3

3 p.m. - SuperStock Race 4

4 p.m. - Award ceremony

Race information and results can be found at p1superstock.com andp1aquaxusa.com.